Category: Newcastle News

City of Newcastle has been forced to maintain the closure of the building at Stockton Beach currently leased to Lexie’s Café following advice from coastal engineers.
The independent report following further severe erosion in recent weeks states that the building is within a hazardous zone of wave impact and is at immediate risk of significant damage or failure in a one-in-two-year storm event.
As a result, the City will not permit occupancy of the building.
City of Newcastle Infrastructure and Property Director Ken Liddell said the decision was made because of the unacceptable risk posed to public safety.
“According to the coastal engineers’ advice, the erosion impact on the building has created an imminent risk to public safety and, as a result, the building cannot be occupied,” Liddell said.
“We understand the direct impact this will have for the operators of the Café, staff and its patrons as Lexie’s is a much-loved and valuable part of the community. We will be working closely with the business owner to transition out of the premises to make this difficult process as smooth as possible.
“The erosion of Stockton Beach has been recognised as a natural disaster and the City must keep public safety a priority as the ongoing issues are managed and we work with the NSW Government on sustainable long-term solutions.”
Due to the same severe erosion event, City of Newcastle relocated all ocean-edge cabins to the adjacent reserve behind Stockton Swimming Pool to save the assets from falling into the ocean.
This is a temporary measure and a development application will be submitted to secure this location in the short to medium term while a long-term solution to the erosion is implemented and the risk to assets mitigated.
No space is available for all the relocated cabins within the existing holiday park as this space is designated for tents and caravans, and the park continues to take bookings.
While the cabins have been temporarily located, they must be properly secured to safeguard them against high winds, requiring footings and ties to be installed.
Underground works to the area east of Stockton Swimming Pool have been undertaken to minimise future costs associated with the security of the cabins, should a development application for the permanent relocation of the cabins in this area be approved.
“High winds occur in the area during east coast low storm events, which typically happen in the March-April period that is rapidly approaching,” Liddell said.
“If the development application is not approved, the cabins will be removed from the reserve. The works will not impact future use of the area by the public.
“The City of Newcastle is undertaking these measures to ensure public safety as well as to help protect what is a key part of Stockton’s tourism economy.
“The longer this important holiday accommodation is unable to be booked by visitors, the more tourism dollars Stockton is missing out on causing further harm to Stockton’s economy and community.”

Police are appealing for information as they continue to investigate the suspicious death of a Hunter Valley man just over a year ago.
About 8pm on Saturday 1 December 2018, emergency services were called to a rural property in
Denman, following reports of a concern for welfare.
On arrival, officers from Hunter Valley Police District found a 71-year-old man had died. He was later formally identified as Douglas Thrift.
A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Thrift had a fatal concentration of the highly-toxic strychnine in his system. Strychnine is a restricted substance.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Farview to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Hunter Valley Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Matthew Zimmer, said detectives would leave no stone unturned in this investigation.
“From all accounts, Douglas Thrift was a loving father, grandfather and husband, who really enjoyed playing sports – especially rugby union, cricket and golf – and was happiest working on his farm,” Det Insp Zimmer said.
“Strike Force Farview investigators are trying to piece together how a fatal amount of this substance came to be in his system.
“Our detectives are keen to speak with those who saw or spoke with Mr Thrift in the days leading up to his death in early December 2018.
“We’re also interested in speaking to any farmers, or other members of the public, who have found strychnine missing from their properties.”

The Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region has recorded the highest level of business confidence of any region in the state according to NSW Business Chamber’s quarterly snapshot of business conditions. 
“The level of local business confidence in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie is trending upwards and has improved significantly since the September quarter,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.  
“While Newcastle experienced a steady quarter, the Chamber recorded weakened confidence across the state, and the broader Hunter region due to ongoing drought and bushfires. Diminished household demand has weighed heavily on sentiment in both regional and metro areas.  

“It’s wonderful our business community has fared well, but we do also recognise the underlying challenges that must be addressed in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie economy.  
“These challenges include high levels of youth unemployment, increasing operating costs and concerns about the future profitability of businesses.” 
City of Newcastle is developing a new Economic Development Strategy which will consider these challenges and propose new programs and initiatives to make our economy more resilient and competitive. Stakeholder and community input will soon to be sought for the development of the strategy. 
“Newcastle has strategic economic advantages that create opportunities for our continued transformation and ongoing growth,” Cr Nelmes said.  
“While the recent Business Chamber results bode well for our local economy in the year to come, we stand in support of regions across the state and Australia which have been devastatingly impacted by drought and bushfires resulting in significant decreases in economic activity and consumer confidence.” 
The latest Business Chamber survey was sent to all business chambers canvassing 20,000 members across all regions of NSW and various business sizes. Respondents were asked to rate their performance across a range of indicators including profits, sales, capital spending and employment levels.  
Respondents were also asked to rate the performance of the NSW economy and had an opportunity to comment on any other factors affecting the performance of their business.  

Two teens have been charged after an alleged break and enter at a school in the Lake Macquarie region early today.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District have been investigating a number of property offences in the Belmont area, including an increase in break and enters.
Police have been proactively responding to this increase with the Lake Macquarie Target Action Group performing Precision Policing in the area.
At 1.30am (Monday 17 February 2020), police stopped two young males walking along the Pacific Highway in Belmont.
Upon searching the two teens, aged 13 and 14, officers allegedly located 11 tablet computers, chargers, a computer modem, food and cleaning materials, as well as house breaking implements and face coverings.
A knife was also seized from one teen before they were taken to Belmont Police Station.
Following inquiries, police were told that a security system was activated at 1am at a school nearby, with entry forced into a computer room.
The 14-year-old was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal in company, possess house breaking implements and custody of a knife in public place.
The 13-year-old was charged with aggravated break, enter and steal in company and possess house breaking implements.
Both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Monday 17 February 2020).

A woman has died after being hit by a vehicle in the Hunter Region last night.
Just before 11pm, a 47-year-old woman was walking across Main Road in Heddon Greta, near Kurri Kurri, when she was hit by a car travelling south.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and found the woman with serious head injuries.
She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics on scene, but later died.
The female driver, aged 27, stopped to render assistance. She was conveyed to Maitland Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.
Investigations continue

Four teens have been charged following an investigation into a number of break-ins in the Maitland area.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation after a number of business at a Rutherford shopping centre and a Maitland motel were broken into during January and early February.
About 10.30am today (Friday 14 February 2020), police attended the shopping centre after a 13-year-old boy was detained by security. Officers arrested the teen and he was taken to Maitland Police Station.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested two girls, aged 14, at a Rutherford home about 11am. Both were taken to Maitland Police Station.
About 1.40pm, a 13-year-old boy, accompanied by his mother, attended Maitland Police Station where he was arrested.
One boy was charged with two counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, larceny, two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company – steal, common assault, and an outstanding warrant was executed.
The other was charged with two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling in company – steal, enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, and breach of bail.
Both were refused bail to appear at a children’s court tomorrow (Saturday 15 February 2020.
One girl was charged with six counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, Enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, and larceny.
She appeared at a children’s court today and was formally refused bail to appear on Friday 28 February 2020.
The other was charged with two counts of enter inclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse, enter vehicle or boat without consent of owner/occupier, larceny, and dishonestly obtain property by deception.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Friday 27 March 2020.

City of Newcastle will relocate up to 16 beachfront cabins at Stockton Holiday Park and has made the difficult decision to immediately close Lexie’s Café ahead of the second east coast low to batter Newcastle in a week.
The cabins will be moved indefinitely to Crown Land managed by the City under reserve trust on the eastern side of the Stockton Swimming Centre, south of the Skate Park.
City of Newcastle Infrastructure and Property Director Ken Liddell said the actions are necessary to protect public assets and safety with heavy swells expected to hit the coast over the next few days, as Cyclone Uesi tracks south.
“While we welcome the State Government declaring a natural disaster for Stockton this week, we are taking immediate action to protect important public assets.
“The cabins, previously protected by about 10 metres of dune vegetation, are now at imminent risk from the swells.
“So we’ve taken the decision to move them to community land next to the swimming pool, where they will be safely tucked away behind King Street carpark and the Stockton breakwater.
“By moving the remainder of the cabins, we will avoid sacrificing more sites for caravans and tents within the existing footprint of the park.”
The City will look to re-open the cabins on the new site after following due process, including site investigation, community consultation and planning approval.
“Once we’ve secured the remainder of the holiday park and this weekend’s threat has passed, we will look at the planning requirements for the site and lodge a DA as soon as possible to begin leasing them out again.”
For the same reasons, City of Newcastle has closed the city-owned building held by Lexie’s Café until it is again safe for the public to enter.
“The impact of the recent wild weather which the State Government has now recognised as a natural disaster, combined with forecast huge swells this weekend, mean we can no longer guarantee public safety at Lexie’s Café,” Liddell said.
“Given this, we have had to make the extremely difficult decision to immediately close and barricade the building. We understand that Lexie’s has become a much-loved part of the Stockton community and this decision was only made after examining computer modelling of the likely impact of the forecast huge swells this weekend.
“It is for the same reason that we have had to relocate several of the most eastern cabins at the caravan park. We are losing sand at a record rate, and with the impact of tropical Cyclone Uesi likely to be felt at Stockton as soon as this weekend, we had to close the building held by Lexie’s Café.
“We again call upon the NSW Government to recognise that mandated processes for long term solutions to coastal erosion at Stockton should no longer apply given the natural disaster that is now much of the eastern coast of Stockton.”

A man will appear in court today charged over the alleged possession of child abuse material at Lake Macquarie.
Following an investigation, detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District executed a search warrant at a Wangi Wangi home yesterday (Thursday 13 February 2020).
During the search, officers allegedly seized a number of electronic devices containing child abuse material. These items will be forensically examined.
A 46-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Toronto Police Station.
He was charged with use carriage service to access child abuse material, possess child abuse material using carriage service, and possess child abuse material.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Friday 14 February 2020).

A man has been charged following an investigation into an alleged act of animal cruelty in the state’s Hunter region.
On Monday 23 December 2019, police will allege that a 37-year-old man became aware of heifers grazing on his property that were not his.
It’s alleged he got into his vehicle and deliberately drove into one of the heifers – breaking its leg – before slitting its throat and releasing his dogs.
The heifer’s owner discovered the injured animal and was forced to euthanise it. He then reported the matter to officers from Hunter Valley Police District.
Investigations commenced by Hunter Valley Rural Crime Investigators, with the assistance of Dungog police and local government authorities.
About 2pm yesterday (Thursday 13 February 2020), the 37-year-old man attended Gosford Police Station, where he was arrested and charged with:
• torture, beat and seriously injure animal,
• torture, beat and cause prolonged suffering to animal,
• dog attack animal due to owner’s reckless act, and
• two counts of fail to prevent dog from escaping.
He was given strict conditional bail and is due to appear in Dungog Local Court on Wednesday 11 March 2020.
State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside, said this investigation highlighted the teamwork and coordination that is ever present between police, the Rural Crime Prevention Team, RSPCA, local government and Local Land Services.
“This is just one example of a great team coming together, sharing expertise and tackling animal cruelty head-on,” Det Insp Whiteside said.
“I would also like to remind the community they can report matters of animal cruelty to their local police, Crime Stoppers, the RSPCA or the Animal Welfare League.”

Work to fight against severe erosion at Stockton beach exacerbated by extreme weather over the weekend has received desperately needed support, with the NSW Government declaring Newcastle a natural disaster area.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has welcomed the news that the NSW Government listened to City of Newcastle’s urgent request to declare a Natural Disaster at Stockton.
“This declaration means that City of Newcastle is eligible for assistance through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Fund to assist with the cost of cleaning up and restoring our damaged essential public assets at Stockton.
“An enormous thank you goes to our amazing City of Newcastle staff who have been undertaking emergency works to protect the Stockton community and our public assets from this erosion catastrophe.
“We’re pleased that this declaration enables us to deal with the short-term impact, but we will continue to call for urgent support from the Premier, Deputy Premier, Environment and Local Government Ministers to deliver a viable long-term solution.
The support offered through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements assists local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets.
“Our immediate priorities are to ensure public safety along the coastal area and to protect public and private assets and property,” Councillor Nelmes said.
Meanwhile, emergency works will continue today at Stockton following significant beach erosion as the City prepares for another storm front and large swells in coming days.
City of Newcastle has completed the relocation of 3 cabins, and we continue the relocation of all ocean edge cabins at Stockton Holiday Park at risk of collapse into the ocean in the face of a low-pressure system predicted to batter the coast in the coming days. To facilitate emergency works, traffic management is in place.
In the interest of public safety, all accessways along Stockton Beach have been closed until further notice and the community is advised to keep away from the top and bottom of sand cliffs as they may be unstable and collapse without warning.
Erosion has exposed significant amounts of historic material and debris which poses public safety risks. Please avoid the beach and this debris. Arrangements are being made to clean up the debris as weather conditions permit.
City of Newcastle requests all residents and visitors be aware of changed conditions and follow directional signage, warnings notices and instructions of City of Newcastle staff and other authorities.